922F

Nick--Thanks yet again for your work on this and other threads!

Any idea of this officer's [post 232 & 233] identity and service? With such Balkan accumulation, perhaps based in Sofia with remit for Greece & Yugoslavia? He wears his Bulgarian Military Merit commander above his St. Alexander commander, out of precedence. This is only the 3rd image I've seen of a Japanese wearing a Bulgarian Order--for other two thanks to you as well as this one!!!

A 1930s Bulgarian group with a Rising Sun 4th class is/was on display in Sofia's Military Museum. In the late 1960s-early 1970s, Dr. Paprikoff owned a 14-15 piece Bulgarian pre-WW I group that included a Sacred Treasure & Tageuk plus a Dragon of Annam and maybe a Royal Cambodian Order. Likely belonged to a Bulgarian on some sort of junket in the Far East.

As always, thank you for locating and posting these rare images!!

Excellent presentation of impressive materials! Sincere thanks!!

Thank you for securing and posting this useful information.

Ray you are certainly welcome to information anytime I may assist. Although Spink's of London supplied almost all Bahalwalpuri decorations to/for the state, they no longer [if ever] retailed ribbons. 2-3 collectors have small stocks of a few Bahalwalpuri ribbons [1947 Slver Jubilee, Accession to Pakistan medal & 1939-45 Victory Star for sure] but I know of none having this one.

Thank you, Andreas, for bringing LIGHT and JOY to our resident gnome genius. He's a very difficult person to joyfully surprise, even when a lady [?] named Tamara gets involved. It is extremely difficult to find ways to acknowledge and honor his generous and selfless contributions here and elsewhere. I know that all of us greatly appreciate your brilliant effort in locating and sharing this information with Rick and the rest of us.

I saw a Cross of Valor commander in a Godet case [blue with gilt details] in the late 1970s at an Athens museum near the former royal palace. Cannot remember the museum name but it was the former residence of a well-connected family that collected all sorts of art work, antiques & oddities. Have not visited the museum since the mid-1980s. A late '70s-early '80s OMSA 'Medal Collector' article describes this museum and reports on its holdings. When I remember the museum name or find the article, I'll post it here.

Excellent addition!!

Double ribbons on Greek bars usually represent civil division entitlement & military division entitlement in the same order; both George I or Phoenix had these two divisions during the monarchy. The republican Phoenix apparently maintains that distinction. Dimacopolis [1968] reports that Greek regulations stipulate only the senior level entitlement of those holding more than one grade of an award be worn.

Looks to be a Bahalwalpur North-West Frontier Medal, founded 1920, gilt = officers; bronze = other ranks. Medal recognized Bahalwalpur troops who replaced Brits on [what's now Pakistan/Afghanistan] North-West Frontier and/or served in 3rd Afghan War. On ribbon for Bahawalpur's Accession to Pakistan medal--correct North-West Frontier Medal ribbon illustrated on Royal Ark Website http://www.royalark.net/Pakistan/bahawal9.htm

And what unfortunate final prices realized!!

Russ Furtado will speak on Portuguese Campaign Medals and Bars of the 19th and 20th Centuries at the August 8-11OMSA convention; in Milwaukee, WI; other international seminar topics are "The Order of Grey-Town" – Alan Menke and "The Imperial Order of the Starry Cross" – Tim Brown

Other seminars address U.S. & UK subject matter -- full descriptions at http://www.omsa.org/content/2013-convention-seminars. The OMSA website has more convention details as well.

Thank you Nick!!! Great to see that image [post 5] of Terpeshev wearing what seems to be a [Bourgeois] Bulgarian Republic uniform complete with decorations that include a Bulgarian Alexander Nevesky Order [st. Alexander Order successor] civil Grand Officer's star!!

A quick translation of Terpeshev's Wiki bio follows....like many Wiki articles, not sure if the information is entirely reliable. Seems he was a 'brave trouble-maker' throughout his life!

Dobri Kolev Terpeshev, born May 15, 1884 in the village of Izvorovo, Bulgaria, joined the Social Democratic Party in 1903. Served during the First Balkan War [1912]. For anti-war activity then, sentenced to death in 1912 but pardoned.

In 1924-1925, he was a political leader of the Communist movement "Hristo Botev" and served under "the last leader" Mityo Ganev. Sentenced to death for his involvement in the April 1925 events [communist terror bombings/murders] in Bulgaria but only imprisoned until 1937. Terpeshev became a member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party in 1938.

He participated in Bulgarian communist resistance movement during World War II. In 1941, Terpeshev was arrested and jailed but escaped in 1943, remaining a Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party throughout. Terpeshev acted as Commander of the rebel People's Liberation Army (NEW) and was a chief organizer of the Bulgarian anti-fascist, pro-communist resistance movement during World War II.

After the overthrow of the government of Ivan Bagrianov, Terpeshev negotiated with Constantine Mouraviev for a peaceful transfer of power to communist leaders. Terpeshev thus was one of the main figures in their September 9, 1944 takeover.

Terpeshev served the Bulgarian communist government as Minister without Portfolio (1944-47), Chairman of the Supreme Economic Council and the State Planning Commission (1945-1950), Vice-Chairman of the Council of Ministers (1949 to 1950). Member of the 26th Ordinary National Assembly (1945-46), 6th Grand National Assembly (1946-49), and National Assembly (1949-1957). Also acted as President of the International Union of participants in the resistance (Federation internationale de resistants) (1948-1950).

In mid-1956 Terpeshev was expelled from Communist Party for "anti-Party activities" -- his opposition to Tudor Zhivkov's [bulgarian communist leader from 1954-1989] ever-increasing 'cult of personality'. During the April, 1956 Bulgarian communist plenum meeting, Terpeshev stated for the record that Zhivkov played an insignificant part in the partisan movement, saying: "It is so small that we never noticed it - either before or after the seizure of power in Sofia. If you live longer, you will learn that Zhivkov himself, alone, was completely responsible for the communist revolution in Bulgaria."

In 1961,Terpeshev was deprived of his pension and in 1964 exiled from Sofia to Pleven. Terpeshev died there in 1967, age 83

Godet manufactured Greek Cross of Valor insignia & cases in all 3 grades -- certainly in the 1920 and 1930s. Usually, cases have their name [simply 'GODET'] stamped in gilt on the reverse right corner.

Believe that Republic of Srpska decorations were designed mainly by a distinguished gentleman from Beograd

Yes Andreas, blue stripes appear too narrow for Iron Crown

Maybe Polar Star case if rosette ribbon colors any hint......of course rosettes not 'married' to case. Case size would suggest insignia's grade....

Paul, Linsl’s piece does not appear to be included in current FCAEE materials. An image of FCAEE's Medal of Europe & associated document may be viewed at http://collections.delcampe.net/page/item/id,170087712,var,MEDAILLE-dEUROPE-Federation-des-Combattants-Allies-en-Europe-et-carte-de-Membre-Delegue,language,F.html. See also http://www.semon.fr/LES%20ASSOCIATIVES_4.htm in the lower third of the page.

In common with other such organizations, FCAEE & ZUPRO offer several different awards not only to veterans and their off-spring but to well-wishers and other contributors. FCAEE’s various websites describe the organization, its activities, and awards. A dissenting view on the ‘worth’ of these awards may be located at http://www.maineworldnewsservice.com/caltrap/once_and_perhaps_still_lucrative.htm.

I should have translated Association for European Development as ‘Association for European Promotion’. That group’s Spanish website available in English at http://www.aefe.es/eng/enghome.html explains its aims & presents an indistinct image of honorees wearing neck badges with ribbons [http://www.aefe.es/es/foto.g.DistincionesAEFE120311.htm]. Ribbon appears similar to Linasl’s example while insignia has same central medallion.

Sincere thanks for yet another first rate contribution!!

This may be an award of the Association for European Development--an organization seemingly without easily researchable information. Based on the cravat loop, possibly of Spanish manufacture with a badge design stemming for the Belgian Order of the African Star? Insignia of the organization's Spanish branch has a similar center. Perhaps the Association's central authority or other national divisions have different insignia types of which this is an example.

Current awards designed by P. Eagleton & supplied by Worth.

Depends on who is buying-- See also German or French eBay sold listings 'Bundesverdienstmedaille' or 'BVK' where prices range from 25-70 euros + postage for male version. Yours looks to be Steinhauer & Luck manufacture [if true, case may have their name on reverse], so worth more than other makers' work. If you can determine name of awardee and her services and/or documents and you sell it with the Spanish medal, some collectors will pay considerably more for the 'group' than for the individual pieces.

Paul thank you for this outstanding resource!!

Ilja559, You could add the Dominican Republic's Orden Heráldica de Cristóbal Colón [Heraldic Order of Christopher Columbus aka Order of Christopher Columbus] to your post 113 above.

Sincere thanks!!

Fascinating, thank you for this post and reference--there may be one in a group formerly [?] displayed in the Museu de Marinha [Naval Museum], Lisbon.

Wonderful, heartfelt sentiments all!!!